Let's revisit the important aspects related to the "Revolt of 1857". Explore a comprehensive summary of the revolt, including causes, major centres and leaders, British resistance, and the impact of the uprising. Learn about the economic, political, and military factors behind the revolt, key figures involved, and its historical significance.

1857 Revolt: Causes of the Uprising

• Economic Causes: Heavy taxation under new revenue settlements, summary evictions, discriminatory tariff policies against Indian products, destruction of traditional handicrafts industries, and lack of modern industrialization affected peasants, artisans, and small zamindars.
• Political Causes: Greedy policy of aggrandizement, absentee sovereignty of British rule, and British interference in socio-religious affairs of the Indian public.
• Military Causes: Discontent among sepoys due to economic, psychological, and religious reasons, combined with a long history of revolts.

1857 Revolt: Centres of Revolt and Key Leaders

• Delhi: General Bakht Khan
• Kanpur: Nana Saheb
• Lucknow: Begum Hazrat Mahal
• Bareilly: Khan Bahadur
• Bihar: Kunwar Singh
• Faizabad: Maulvi Ahmadullah
• Jhansi: Rani Laxmibai
• Baghpat: Shah Mal

1857 Revolt: The British Resistance

• Delhi: Lieutenant Willoughby, John Nicholson, Lieutenant Hudson
• Kanpur: Sir Hugh Wheeler, Sir Colin Campbell
• Lucknow: Henry Lawrence, Brigadier Inglis, Henry Havelock, James Outram, Sir Colin Campbell
• Jhansi: Sir Hugh Rose
• Benaras: Colonel James Neill

1857 Revolt: Causes of Failure

• Limited territorial and social base.
• Crucial support of certain sections of Indian public to British authorities.
• Lack of resources compared to the British.
• Lack of coordination and central leadership.
• Lack of a coherent ideology and political perspective.

1857 Revolt: Nature and Interpretations

• R.C. Majumdar and S.N. Sen: “Not an organized ‘national’ revolt”
• R.C. Majumdar: “Neither first, nor National War of Independence”
• V.D. Savarkar: “War of independence”
• Eric Stokes: “Elitist in character”
• Lawrence and Seeley: “Mere sepoy mutiny”
• T.R. Holmes: “A conflict between civilization and barbarism”
• James Outram: “A Mohammedan conspiracy making capital of Hindu grievances”
• Percival Spear: Three phases of the revolt

1857 Revolt: Effects and Aftermath

• The Crown took over; Company rule was abolished. The Queen’s Proclamation altered administration. The army was reorganized, and racial hatred deepened.
• White Mutiny: A section of European forces resented the transfer of allegiance from the Company to the Queen, resulting in unrest. The mutiny was addressed by accepting demands for free release and passage home.